Teen Teachers Jumpstart Migrant Schools in India

The majority of Hasnain Imam’s students in Howrah, India, near Kolkata, are from economically disadvantaged families; many of their parents are migrant laborers who never entered a classroom. Imam believes these teens are uniquely positioned to inspire others from similar backgrounds and work to improve their communities. “Students in schools like mine must be harnessed to become change agents,” the TEA (Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program) alumnus says.

Imam’s 11th and 12th graders are serving those around them through a partnership with the Talimi Haq (“Right to Education”) School, a non-formal learning center managed by local volunteers. Located less than half a kilometer away from Imam’s classroom, the center caters to children who are working or whose families cannot afford school. For many, Talimi Haq is their only chance to study.

During a typical weekend session, one of Imam’s students sits cross-legged on the floor in a sea of 25 kindergarten-age children, teaching them English nursery rhymes. Their classroom is simple but cheerfully decorated, with brightly colored posters of animals, fruits, and flowers on the walls and Indian flags fluttering from the ceiling. Other student volunteers lead Talimi Haq children in an art project and help them with their homework.

Many of Talimi Haq’s learners are the children of poor mill workers and laborers, but they dream of a brighter future. “When I grow up, I would like to work in the court with a black gown,” said 10-year-old Imran on the school’s blog. Eleven-year-old Shaher would like to be a doctor.

As they widen these children’s possibilities, Imam’s students are changing too, becoming leaders dedicated to improving the lives of those around them. “I became more aware of the challenges confronting the community,” one young man reflected. Another enjoyed his volunteer experience so much he aspires to become a teacher after graduation.

Education should foster the process of unlocking the best human qualities in a student, Imam says. “The idea of this project is to sensitize these students and encourage them to take on the mantle of community leadership, act as role models within their own community, and thus be in a position to understand and appreciate the role of education in bringing about social change,” he explains. Talimi Haq has a double meaning in Urdu—both ‘right to education’ and ‘truth is learning.’

The student internship project was made possible through a Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program Alumni Small Grant funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. Imam participated in a six-week professional exchange in the United States through the TEA program in 2008. He is currently an assistant teacher in political science at Vikram Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School.